Comments for Taking the war beyond Mogadishu at http://www.independent.co.ug , comment 1 to 17 out of 17 comments http://www.independent.co.ug Wed, 22 May 2013 16:09:17 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-48147 The political and democratic stability in Somalia is no longer a Somalia matter but a regional responsibility. It is more than fascinating to see Africans restore one of their own failed state. His Excellency Mwai Kibaki and other regional leaders have a great legacy to leave behind. This is the way for Africa as a continent. :)[ - James Olekipish Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:21:07 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-47081 I am sure if You had gone to Mogadishu looking for the bad side of UPDF, you would have got it, In the same way you sound erroneous when you start by praising Rwandan army to the extent of comparing it with the mosad of Israel, In no way has Rwandan army ever reached the status of Ugandan army and I find conflict of interest in you because you will not do PR campaign for 2 different countries at the same time - I predict you being executed in future for spying on either countries - Gatama Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:08:24 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-47080 You can’t deny the facts rose by Charles Onyango because that is the other side of the coin and you had different objectives when going to mogadishu. How do you expect UPDF in somalia to perform when well funded & well paid you Sycophant? Tell Keinerugaba to pay well other UPDF officers and you will see the results. - Gatama Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:07:12 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-47079 I am rather Perturbed by Mwenda when he says that Mogadishu street lights lit more than those of kampala; surely Andrew stop hoodwinking your readers. while at times there is jam in Mogadishu, it is only linked to poor roads, poor traffic control, and petty earthworks. what is absolutely true is that there is relative stability in Mogadishu and its perepheral despite its fragility. Be sencere to yourself Mwenda: Had you gone there to do Investigative Journalism or Public relations compiagn as usual?? Iam sure that it is the same Keinerugaba that Paid your air tickets. - Gatama Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:05:18 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46971 Typically the Louis Vuitton bags can be obtained because of any sort of outstanding buy and / or in your shopping centers by very reasonable deals. Most services are made from canvas interpretation they've been water resistant and therefore recommended within stormy gardening seasons. - Louis Vuitton Bags Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:52:34 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46959 I argued earlier that we should not put our troops on the firing line for dubious national political, economic or military strategic reasons. It will become too difficult to rationally account for any losses. Now think about the chopper accident in Kenya. It brings out the loopholes in our military doctrine and capabilities into the open. We should review our commitments in Somalia and seek better options. The opposition parties could help to suggest more options for the people of Uganda to debate as it is their sons and daughters who are being used as canon fodder. They can never become heroes because heroism in most dubious causes or wars has little meaning, or at best temporary. - John Majwara Fri, 17 Aug 2012 20:18:53 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46955 The market now is having a very tough competition when it comes to selling designer bags. There are lots of new brand of bags that offer wide range of trends and latest designs. - Coach Outlet Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:53:44 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46913 For long UNISOM hold on a piece of land in Somalia smaller than the farm of Sabalwanyi at Rwakitura , Al Shabaab moved out on Mogadishu because of the Famine when it lost its civilian population cover , what equipment does UPDF have that Somalis don't have ? T55 tanks ? RPG ? or AK47 , UPDF took Anti aircraft guns , but we know Somalis have no planes and instead aircraft guns are used as artillery , same as Somalis use them on their so called ''Technicals '' Kenya will less men and normal Army covers bigger operational area, m7 and his Burundi contingent have no air assets despite being a whole division - Lt .Col Adam kifaliso Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:56:58 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46910 The Force in Somalia is AMISOM, not UPDF. Stope endangering our soldiers by you sycophancy. We know you were sent there to counteract the article Onyango Obbo wrote about the UPDF in Somalia. You have to remember that there are units from Burundi, Kenya, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and soon, one or two other countries. Do not put AMISOM combatants at loggerheads just to please your boss and his son. By the way, you praise the young officer corps now in UPDF, how did your friend Kainerugaba, assisted by other "young officers" Rwakitarate and Kankiriho, fair in Garamba forest???!! - beebwa Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:47:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46907 As for you as a person Andrew, (I have nothing against you and I do not know you or need to) you really need to check your blinded almost naive "excitement" of a confounded villager towards petty temporal worldly possessions. It is rendering you not any different Ugandans who claim to have real 'class" despite your obviously being intellectually gifted. Your views appear to switch with emotion, perhaps the word enigma comes to mind. This trait and new found "fame" is going render you a forgotten, irrelevant, relic for positive change in Uganda, it is making you look really bad! - pacol Tue, 14 Aug 2012 02:58:20 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46906 Andrew, You make some really good points here! Ugandans can be professional and erstwhile. Our soldiers dole out alms (medical free-bees) for Somalis, hold smart phones appear intelligent and brave! M7 can and will continue to throw his weight behind the army at any expense and at all the cost to Ugandans at home because it keeps him in power. If some, I say some, or little could be ploughed back to real things that are undermining this country's future then we will exonerate M7 for all his crime against the human being labeled "Ugandan”. But alas much as your article elicits emotions of pride for any Ugandan reading this article, the opposite is an outrageous tragedy, the tragedy that Ugandans in Karamoja, Gulu, Busoga, etc stare in the face on a daily basis. - pacol Tue, 14 Aug 2012 02:56:10 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46898 Please read UPDF and not TPDF in my commentary. - John Majwara Mon, 13 Aug 2012 07:46:55 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46897 Operationally, Iam impressed that TPDF is doing a good job. Congratulations to our troops. But Uganda's political, economic and strategic interests ought to have been clearly defined in the first place so that we may rationally account for the casualties. We should never put our troops on the firing line for unclear or dubious reasons. Mwenda should go further than the public relations job that he now seems to be doing , and cultivate national strategic interests- beyond the mere perks that the troops may be getting, the monetary spin-offs to the Generals at TPDF headquarters, or fighting the war to please the Americans. - John Majwara Mon, 13 Aug 2012 07:37:49 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46895 He says the UPDF in Somalia is well-armed, well-paid and well-motivated and suggests this applies to the entire Ugandan army. Yet the fact remains that the UPDF in Somalia is funded by the UN, not the Ugandan government. Don't we all know that the UN generally pays well those working for it? And, finally, while the peacekeeping operation involves two countries - Uganda and Burundi - the journalist seems to shower the UPDF with all the credit for a job well done. "With UPDF having chased Al-Shabab from its bases in Mogadishu, the city is coming back to life," he writes. And he goes on: "This is the reason the people of Somalia love UPDF." Where is Burundi in all this? - sigmol kidmol Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:23:50 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46894 This article only tells half the story. Of course it is dangerous for any journalist to venture out on his own in the streets of Mogadishu, but not being able to go out and speak to ordinary Somalis means you get to hear only the views of the peacekeepers - and they only tell you what they want you to hear and write. Also, this journalist's close ties with the commander-in-chief of the UPDF, Yoweri Museveni, means there is conflict of interest - real and/or perceived. A journalist doing such an important assignment should be independent. - sigmol kidmol Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:22:41 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46888 By the way, Mr Mwenda, could you also kindly find out if UPDF/AMISOM played any role in rescuing the two South Africans, Bruno Pelizzari and Debbie Calitz, who were held in captivity for 20 months by Somali pitares. I have watched and followed the South African press, and not a single mention of the role of Uganda in pacifying Somalia is made. Instead the media is awash with the info that the governments of Italy, South Africa and TFG of Somalia effected the rescue! Like I said, the role of Uganda and AMISOM in pacifying Somalia is never mentioned anywhere in South African media. Why?!! - Musinga Sun, 12 Aug 2012 05:33:35 +0100 http://www.independent.co.ug/cover-story/6251-taking-the-war-beyond-mogadishu#comment-46887 "There are very many Somalis like Mo and Ibil in the Diaspora. They have money and skills to rebuild their motherland. The challenge is whether the local politicians and warlords can allow them to come and use their skills and experience to build a better Somalia"..... Mwenda, what are you insinuating here? If UPDF sacrificed to "liberate" Somalia, why is it a challenge for Somalis in the Diaspora to return home, start from scratch and develop their own country?! Your sympathy for them is just not called for. - Musinga Sun, 12 Aug 2012 05:31:58 +0100